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Fine Gael remains largest in Irish parliament

Xinhua, March 3, 2016 Adjust font size:

Despite suffering heavy losses, Ireland's Fine Gael (United Ireland Party) still retained the largest party status in the 32nd Dail Eireann, lower house of Irish parliament, according to final election results on Thursday.

As vote counting concluded at all count centers across the country, all 158 Dail Eireann seats were filled. Fine Gael secured 50 seats, only six ahead of its main rival Fianna Fail (Republican Party).

Gerry Adams' Sinn Fein made a historic breakthrough to win 23 seats. The party is now the third largest in terms of members of parliament in Ireland.

Fine Gael became the largest party in Ireland after the 2011 general election. It then formed a coalition government with the Labor Party, with the Fine Gael party leader Enda Kenny serving as Taoiseach (prime minister). Kenny has led the party since 2002.

Labor had 33 seats when the 31th Dail Eireann dissolved early this month and now it took a serious thumping in Friday's poll, only having seven seats, securing the party's speaking rights in the Dail Eireann.

Fine Gael and Labor fell far short of required 80 seats for a coalition government for the next five years.

Both independents and smaller parties made huge gains, wining 34 seats in total.

On Friday, Irish voters went to the polls in an general election described as one of the most unpredictable in recent times.

More than 3.2 million people were eligible to vote in 40 constituencies being contested by 552 candidates, a slight drop on the number that contested the 2011 general election.

In this year's election, the candidates ran for the 157-member Dail Eireann. Outgoing Dail Eireann Speaker Sean Barrett was elected automatically, bringing the total number of TDs (members of parliament) to 158, down eight from the last Dail Eireann.

On Feb. 3, Irish President Michael D Higgins signed a proclamation to dissolve the 31st Dail Eireann at the request of Prime Minister Kenny and the incoming Dail Eireann will sit on March 10. Endit